You could spend the entire summer in Alaska without ever seeing a bear, or you could be on an early morning stroll in Juneau and see one scrambling towards the woods a block away from the Governor's Mansion. The fact is, as one ranger put it, 'no matter where you travel in Alaska, you'll never be far from a bear'. The best way to avoid contact of the huggy kind is to follow some common-sense rules.

Bears do not roam the backcountry looking for hikers to maul; they only charge when they feel trapped, when a hiker comes between a sow and her cubs or when they are enticed by food. It is a good practice to sing or clap when traveling through thick bush so you don't bump into a bear. At night try to place your food sacks 10ft (3m) or more off the ground by hanging them in a tree. In a treeless, flat area, cover up the food sacks with rocks, especially if you like pancakes. And don't take anything which might smell edible into the tent at night. This includes toothpaste, hand lotion and suntan oils but there have been no reports of bears sniffing out edible undies. If a bear smells a human, it will leave. (But this is not an anti-anti-perspirant campaign.)

If you do meet a bear on the trail, do not turn and run. Stop, make no sudden moves and begin talking calmly to it. Bears have extremely poor eyesight and speaking helps them understand that you are there. If it doesn't take off right away, back up slowly before turning around and leave the area. Most bear charges are bluffs, with the animal veering off at the last minute. Some experienced backpackers throw their packs 3ft (.9m) in front of them, as this will often distract the bear long enough for it to back away. Others fire a hand-held signal flare over the bear's head (but never at it) in an attempt to use the noise and sudden light to scare it away. If an encounter is imminent, drop into a fetal position, place your hands behind your neck and play dead.

Be extremely careful in bear country, but don't let the bears' reputation keep you out of the woods.